Good news from rhuemy today!

Well, not great on a GRAND scale, but helpful all the same. I get to start ramping down my prednisone. I'm only on 15mg, the move from 10 to 15mg several months ago has caused significant weight gain (Read: CARB Cravings!!!) I have also been feeling really moody and agitated lately, I'm hoping that is from too much pred. I get to go down to 14mg for 4 weeks, if all's ok then I can go down to 13mg, then I see rheumy again. And, I think this may have been the first time since I started seeing the rheumy (fall 2000) that I *DID NOT* have a list of symptoms to take to him. This either means 1) I'm healed (not), 2) I'm happy with how I'm feeling, or 3) I was too zoned out to make a list this time. I'm thinking 2) fits best -- My trial at working full-time failed, then there was a dysfunctional dance about whether I was going to work there part-time or not, but that's all been gone for a couple of weeks and I feel much better! <NOTE: Much less stress! > Going to try sleeping again, it's late.
Lynnwood, Co-Moderator: Lupus Forum SLE(’00), Sjogren's Syndrome, Raynaud's Syndrome, SAD, Depression, Herpes Simplex 1 Piroxicam, Plaquenil, Cellcept, Prednisone, Xanax, Trazodone, Fosamax, Wellbrutrin SR, Valtrex OTC Daily: Multivitamin, Calcium, B-12, C, D; As Needed: Ibuprofen, Tylenol Sinus
Allergies: All Sulfa-based medications; Levofloxacin, Levaquin
DIAGNOSING LUPUS (4 of 11), LUPUS INFORMATION , LUPUS RESOURCES , Donate to HealingWell , Drug Interactions

Lynnwood I really hope the taper works for you. Your rheumy seems really smart about the taper by taking it really slowly - it seems like this way will help your body adjust better so you can handle the taper better. It's great that you have improved so much and I hope that it continues for you. I know you were eager to try work again and I'm sorry it ended up being too hard on your body - I give you a lot of credit for even attempting it. I'm glad you've been feeling better since not working. I hope you did get some sleep. I'll be really interested to see how your taper goes. I actually think I could use and increase in my prednisone right now, but I'm not sure if my rheumy will agree to it and I'm also afraid of the side effects you mentioned (more weight gain, mood, etc). Thanks for sharing the good news and keep us posted on your progress. Take care
Diagnosis: UCTD (lupus) 2006; Raynauds 2006; Sjogren's 2006; lupus symptoms began 2003; CFS 1991; Mono 1985
Meds: Plaquenil 400mg; Prednisone 5-10mg; Tramadol 100mg 3-4x daily; Amitriptyline 10mg ; Neurontin 300mg; Prevacid; Steriod Cream and Mouth Rinse for tongue and mouth ulcers; Hydrocodone 5/500 prn for severe pain; Restasis eye drops
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Well, I finally slept from 3:30-7:30....a normal night for me is more like 10 hours! Hippimom - If you think it will help you feel better (I think I remember that you're on 10mg), I would suggest asking the dr if you could go up to 15 for a few weeks, then immediately start ramping back down. I really think I could've gone back down sooner than this, if I had only thought to ask! Most of my weight gain has been in the last 6 months, and I'm sure is also related to exercise level (moderate walking) going from 45 minutes down to 0 as I was trying to work. (I like blaming prednisone, esp, in the middle of the night.) Given the alternative between pain/fatigue and a little weight (which can be controlled if you're strict w/yourself when the carb carvings come); I'd still go with a small increase in prednisone -- esp. since I think you are in a temporary flare from hubby being gone & from still doing too much even without working. Just my $.02. Hope you feel better soon,
Lynnwood, Co-Moderator: Lupus Forum SLE(’00), Sjogren's Syndrome, Raynaud's Syndrome, SAD, Depression, Herpes Simplex 1 Piroxicam, Plaquenil, Cellcept, Prednisone, Xanax, Trazodone, Fosamax, Wellbrutrin SR, Valtrex OTC Daily: Multivitamin, Calcium, B-12, C, D; As Needed: Ibuprofen, Tylenol Sinus
Allergies: All Sulfa-based medications; Levofloxacin, Levaquin
DIAGNOSING LUPUS (4 of 11), LUPUS INFORMATION , LUPUS RESOURCES , Donate to HealingWell , Drug Interactions

Good luck with the taper Lynn. It sounds like things are getting better for you, hence getting off the Pred. I hope it continues for you and I'm glad to hear that you don't have so much stress from the work.

Lynnwood, that IS good news! I'm agree with Hippi -- sounds like you have a good rheumy who's going to take you down very slowly. If you can handle the taper, you'll start to lose those cravings and won't gain any more weight. Good for you.

I am very happy to hear that you can begin to decrease your prednisone!!!!! I like how your rheumie is lowering 1 mg at a time in order to keep you from a severe flare up. I am hoping this works well for you and you don't flare up as you lower gradually. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you during this time. Keep us posted on how things are going with it.

I wonder how lowering 1 mg slowly would help Hippiemom too instead of 5 mg increments.

Hi Lynnwood. It's good to hear that your symptoms are improving. I was on 30mg pred for 5 days (and you know how much I hate pred) now I'm on 20mg. My point is that it's after midnight in our ATL garden and I'm wide awake. I was reading your theory re why you are "list-less" and I like the Happy with how you're feeling. Although I've been quite sick lately, I just noticed today that my feet aren't hurting. Sometimes I plod along and suddenly notice something has improved. I also like the happy how you're feeling because it isn't stating you feel well, it simply states you're content for a while. Hugs.

Hi Lynwood, good luck with the tapering. I've never know of tapering by only 1mg before so I'd be interested how that works. Hope you continue to be happy with how you feel. Note to self: Stress is BaddddddddddddddddTake care x xChillblain Pattern LE, possible SLE, tachycardia, proctal fugax, anismus, slow transit constipation.

It's good to hear that you are tapering down now. I hope that goes well for you and you continue to feel better each day. Keep us updated and take care. I hope your sleeping better tonight as well. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Three days is pretty good. I usually notice tt around day 2 if I'm going to have trouble tapering. I'll be interested to see how it goes for you, but I have a good feeling that you'll do pretty well since you're tapering so slowly. You can be my rold model and my reference person for tapering. My rheumy wants me to go from 15 to 10 next week, but I'm going to take it slower and go from 15 to 12.5 to 10, otherwise I think I'll be headed for big trouble. It's amazing what a difference that 5mg increase made for me - it's really like a miracle, so I'm nervous about tapering. Anyway, I'm glad to hear it's going well for you and I hope it continues. Take care
Diagnosis: UCTD (lupus) 2006; Raynauds 2006; Sjogren's 2006; lupus symptoms began 2003; CFS 1991; Mono 1985
Meds: Plaquenil 400mg; Prednisone 5-10mg; Tramadol 100mg 3-4x daily; Amitriptyline 10mg ; Neurontin 300mg; Prevacid; Steriod Cream and Mouth Rinse for tongue and mouth ulcers; Hydrocodone 5/500 prn for severe pain; Restasis eye drops
Clickable: LUPUS INFORMATION & LUPUS RESOURCES .
Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating: https://www.healingwell.com/donate/
Co-Moderator: Lupus and CFS Forums